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Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

Cesiumsponge

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 4, 2009
288
0
41
Seattle, WA
I hit several of the usual forums looking around for discrete carry bags that could work for precision rifles that had a folding stock. No one makes such a case to begin with, short of a full-blown custom jobber. Also, nothing that currently exists on the market could be adapted to my wants. It's unfortunate because in my search, none of the bags seem to work. Most 36" cases were all single rifle cases, meaning my folded Sako, 3.75", would bulge out the case like crazy. There are several "double rifle" cases which generally run 4"+ deep with a removable divider but several of these companies had a generic design without velcro, MOLLE, or straps to secure a rifle. I don't want my rifle bouncing around. Tactical Tailor made the closest thing I could find with a velcro interior to secure items but I wanted backpack straps to hump my rifle around and their custom shop is too expensive IMO. Most of the discrete cases were also tactical enough in shape and color that I think most folks would have the ability to ID it as a gun case.

Someone suggested I look at keyboard cases so I spent a few days looking at musical instrument bag/backpacks. After browsing through keyboard bags (most which look like rectangular rifle cases with Korg or Roland on the side), I came across something that looks more organic. It's about as discrete as possible, and it doesn't blatantly look like another type or style of bag so folks won't walk up to me and ask me what keyboard I play, or what tennis racket I use. They had another smaller case which looks like it would work equally well as a discrete AR upper/lower breakdown case and I might order one after receiving this one and evaluating the quality.

The company is based out of the UK, called Fusion Bags. There are several product lines (F1 through F4) with decreasing protection levels for a soft case, and I mainly picked the F2 product line because of the color (two tone green). It is a "trombone gig bag". 20mm of high density foam padding all over. All internal dimensions are the same for the product lines and they grow in external size from the extra pockets and thicker foam. The internal dimension are 35.4" long 11.22 wide 6.1"depth with a spacer to protect the bell of a trombone. Without the spacer, it should collapse thinner. This is perfect since my rifle is about 33" long once I put on a brake, should be about 10" tall with glass, and under 4" thick with the stock folded. $180 bones...about the same price as a US-made soft gun case so I'm taking a gamble here but it doesn't look like a gun case...or even a musical instrument case.

Here is the F2 pack I ordered. The differences between the F1 and F2 is mainly some cosmetics of the auxillary pockets and foam thicknesses.
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A shot of how it opens up (F1 line). The pockets are perfect for a data book, tools, etc. It will open up nicely. Lots of padding. Even the strap is padded.
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Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

Just watch out for bullies when you carry that thing around, you might get shoved in your locker! :p
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

The beauty is that it doesn't even look like a trombone case. All the kids had those hard plastic cases. If I saw that pack on the street, I'd have no idea what was in it.
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

Why the need to carry a bolt action rifle around in a trumpet case and be discrete about it??
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

That is kinda nice actually.

Makes me think that now I can take an AW with me to Starbucks while I work on that all-important screenplay. On my MacBook Pro of course ; )
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

Why transport any firearms around discretely at all? A bolt-action rifle is no different than any other rifle. Some folks like to transport their gear discretely. Consider people that live in the city or an apartment, or other high traffic areas where you don't want to attract attention. I don't slather my car with political and gun stickers and I don't care much for carrying around my gear in super duper tactical mulicam cases. I prefer to carry about my business like Joe Everyday. All my gun cases are on the discrete side and I'm finally glad to find something that'll shoehorn in a folded precision rifle. Different strokes for different folks.
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jeff1383</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why the need to carry a bolt action rifle around in a trumpet case and be discrete about it?? </div></div>
Because it's cool. This is my set up. Co-workers have never once suspected.

I always wondered how companies like Nemesis Arms stayed in business selling an overpriced solution to a problem that doesn't exist...

DiscreetM1A.jpg
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

I could have used something like this at my last apt. I lived in a complex outside of a college that catered to the college for housing. Unfortunately they had a policy in their lease that you could not have any firearms on the premises. So if I had anything with me it had to be discreet to avoid attention. I used a hard case for a trombone and just used the excuse that I played, I can't. I got to shoot at my local range up the street and didn't have to drive an extra 40 miles to go pick up my rifle every time. And yes they can legally say you can't have weapons as long as they let you know about it before you sign the lease and you sign it.
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StanwoodSpartan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Plus you can look like half a homo with a tromboner case....</div></div>

Dude, we live in the puget sound. That is one more layer of blending in. Ah hell, this forum doesn't have the limpwrist smiley face.
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

I keep mine inside of a well used blow up doll. No seriously I have a purple bat bag that hold my aics folder.
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hamstur</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jeff1383</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why the need to carry a bolt action rifle around in a trumpet case and be discrete about it?? </div></div>
Because it's cool. This is my set up. Co-workers have never once suspected.

I always wondered how companies like Nemesis Arms stayed in business selling an overpriced solution to a problem that doesn't exist...

DiscreetM1A.jpg
</div></div>
Bahahahaha!!! That just made my day!!!
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

the hell with discreet, you would be amazed how much more polite your neighboors get once they know you have weaponry.
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: attherange</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the hell with discreet, you would be amazed how much more polite your neighboors get once they know you have weaponry. </div></div>

It's true actually. I didn't have a case for my TAC-50, so I would just carry it in the open. I lived in apartments then and got some really awkward looks. Don't know why... It's Texas, this is normal... It's what we do!
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Cesiumsponge</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: StanwoodSpartan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Plus you can look like half a homo with a tromboner case....</div></div>

Dude, we live in the puget sound. That is one more layer of blending in. Ah hell, this forum doesn't have the limpwrist smiley face. </div></div>

I was gonna say something bout living in Seattle and flying the rainow flag, but thought against it. But in all seriousness now, where would you use this? Obviously you aren;t going to walk down the streets of Seattle with a TRG or AI, so is this for trasnporting in your car so the rifle isnt sittin gon the seat? Only place my rifle goes is to the hunting grounds, to the matches, or to the range....
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

Living in an area with only curbside parking, I don't need my neighbors seeing me cart guns back and forth between the house and car. The whole "amazed how much more polite your neighbors get once they know you have weaponry." works until you aren't home and some deadbeat with sticky fingers decides to help himself to your goodies when you're at work because he saw you loading some nice gun cases into the trunk the other day. Given the quality of some of my neighbors and this area...not a risk I'm willing to take. The guy next doors simply walked out on his home earlier this year. Even took the Dodge Rampage (who the HELL even has one of those?) and IROC off his front lawn with him. One shifty neighbor down, about three to go.

This will be an irrelevant issue once I move into a home with a detached or attached garage, but I don't have that luxury right now. Hah StanwoodSpartan, I was kind of expecting a black mask and Nike shoes joke too
 
Re: Discrete bags for AI and Sako TRG folders!

I hear what you're saying about the neighbors. No issues at my house, but I have an apartment in a liberal state where folks look at you like you're crazy if you're walking around with a gun case.

I normally use a Fender bass guitar gig bag for trips to the range. It'll hold most long guns, and no one gives you a second look carrying around what they perceive to be a guitar.